Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo talks to the media Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza in Albany. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo talks to the media Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza in Albany. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says state employee unions need to enter bargaining open to his ideas. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says state employee unions need to enter bargaining open to his ideas. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says the Legislature needs to stop denying that a $315 million budget deficit needs to be closed. He talks to reporters Tuesday after a closed Democratic Assembly lunch at the Crowne Plaza in Albany. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says the Legislature needs to stop denying that a $315 million budget deficit needs to be closed. He talks to reporters Tuesday after a closed Democratic Assembly lunch at the Crowne ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says the Legislature needs to step up to deal with major problems like the budget deficit. He speaks Tuesday after a closed-door luncheon with Assembly Democrats at the Crowne Plaza in Albany November 30, 2010. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) less

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo says the Legislature needs to step up to deal with major problems like the budget deficit. He speaks Tuesday after a closed-door luncheon with Assembly Democrats at the Crowne Plaza in ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver walks the chamber floor during a special session of the Assembly at the Capitol in Albany Tuesday 11/30/2010. ( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver walks the chamber floor during a special session of the Assembly at the Capitol in Albany Tuesday 11/30/2010. ( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union )

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Cuomo slams 'do nothing' Legislature

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ALBANY -- Hours after the Assembly's Democratic majority had a closed-door luncheon with Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo, the chamber on Tuesday passed a plan to restructure the bankrupt New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. and a measure designed to fight "wage theft" by employers.

Still uncompleted was any action to close the $315 million budget deficit for the remaining fiscal year, which runs through March 31.

Talking to reporters at the Crowne Plaza after his meeting with Assembly Democrats, Cuomo said that task will likely have to wait until after he takes office Jan. 1. By that time, he noted, the job will be that much more difficult, since budget deficits tend to grow over time.

"For them to come back and do nothing, I think, is very distressing," Cuomo said. " ... You can get into the blame game, but for me it's not important who's to blame. They failed; they failed the people of New York."

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The OTB plan, offered by Gov. David Paterson, calls for the New York Racing Association, which operates tracks including Saratoga, and other creditors to take over New York City OTB's phone and Internet betting operations.

The trouble: The Senate left town on Monday without taking up the OTB bill due to Republican opposition and the absence of all 32 members of the Democratic majority. With New York City OTB saying it will run out of cash next month, the operation faces a potential closure.

It was this kind of inaction, especially on the budget, which concerned Cuomo.

"Hard decisions, tough choices don't go away just because you don't make them," he said. "Denial is not a life strategy."

Cuomo said he and the lawmakers discussed a wide range of issues, from his call for a property tax cap to New York City rent control laws. But no firm plans or decisions were made in the approximately 90-minute meeting.

The governor-elect repeated his warning that he'd fire back at public employee unions or others if they launch campaigns against what he said will be a stringent budget plan for the coming fiscal year.

"There will be public sector unions that will have to endure reductions next year just because of the numbers," said Cuomo. "I hope they come to the table in good spirits."

"If they rebuke my opening and opportunity to be cooperative and they then wage (opposition) campaigns," he said, "then we'll have to deal with that and we'll be prepared to deal with that. I hope that doesn't happen."

The Assembly worked until 4 a.m. Tuesday, and managed to pass bills that created a commission to examine judicial pay and an education bill that would freeze the per-child allowance paid by school districts to charter schools. The OTB rescue was deferred until the afternoon session due to the wee-hours desertion of several lawmakers.

The afternoon brought passage of the bill as well as legislation designed to tighten penalties and allow for greater transparency in cases where managers deny propers wages or benefits to employers. The Assembly also voted to rename the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel after former Gov. Hugh Carey despite the estimated $200,000 cost of new signage.

Senate sources suggested members could return to Albany as early as next week to take up at least some of its unfinished business.